Tens Of Thousands Of Pregnant Women At Risk

16 Jan 2010 21:03:27 GMT

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Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Jan. 16, 2010) – CARE warns that pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children are at greatest risk after Tuesday’s devastating quake that devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince left nearly three million people in need of assistance. There is an estimated 37,000 pregnant women among the affected population in urgent need of safe drinking water, food and medical care. Half of Haiti’s population is younger than 18 years old.

Hospitals and medical centres have been destroyed, and remaining centres are overwhelmed treating people injured from the quake. With limited or no access to health facilities, pregnant women are at an even greater risk of complications and death related to pregnancy and childbirth. Haiti already has the highest rate of maternal death in the region: 670 deaths per 100,000 live births.

“There are a lot of pregnant women in the streets, and mothers breastfeeding new babies,” said Sophie, Perez, Country Director for CARE in Haiti. “There are also women giving birth in the street, directly in the street. The situation is very critical. Women try to reach the nearest hospital, but as most of the hospitals are full, it’s very difficult for them to receive the appropriate care. Mothers and their babies could die from complications without medical care.”

In general, approximately 15% of all pregnant women will experience a complication requiring medical interventions. This is even worse in a disaster situation. The majority of maternal deaths result from hemorrhage, infection, miscarriage, prolonged/obstructed labour and hypertensive disorders, many of which could be avoided with medical care.

CARE, which focuses on empowering women and girls as part of our global fight against poverty, has partnered with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) in Haiti to help meet the urgent needs of pregnant and lactating women after the earthquake. CARE has extensive ongoing health programs in Haiti, and will work with the local government to rebuild their health capacity.

To help meet the specific needs of pregnant women, new mothers and children, CARE is focusing on the following as part of its immediate emergency response:

-distribution of water purification tablets to provide clean water, particularly for pregnant women and children who are particularly susceptible to water-borne illness such as diarrhea;
-distribution of emergency food rations;
-distribution of infant kits for mothers with newborns and young babies;
-distribution of hygiene kits that include basic hygiene items such as soap and toothpaste, but also sanitary napkins and panties for women.

After disasters, CARE normally also provides safe delivery kits for women and health centers to facilitate safer, cleaner deliveries. We are working together with partners to determine how to procure these items as quickly as possible.

“It is also particularly crucial that new mothers continue breastfeeding, which provides the safest nutrition to their babies,” said Perez. “There is an urgent need for clean drinking water and additional nutritious food so new mothers do not become sick, dehydrated or malnourished, which may prevent them from breastfeeding.”

CARE’s immediate response is focused on delivering food, clean water, emergency supplies and temporary shelter, and helping the local government rebuild the health-care system. Today, CARE is distributing an eight-day supply of water purification tablets at three health centers for 12,000 people. CARE has launched a US$10 million appeal for a three-year emergency relief and recovery program for the affected population.

For more information or to arrange interviews with staff in Haiti:

Melanie Brooks (in Geneva): +41 79 590 30 47, brooks@careinternational.org
Brian Feagans (in Atlanta): +1 404-457-4644, bfeagans@care.org
Stephanie Libby (in Atlanta): +1 404-979-9182, slibby@care.org

About CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is one of the world’s largest humanitarian aid agencies. In nearly 70 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, and provide lifesaving assistance after disasters. CARE has been working in Haiti since 1954, providing projects in HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation.

CARE International UK is a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which has launched an appeal for money to support the relief work in Haiti. To make a donation to the DEC Haiti appeal visit www.dec.org.uk or call 0370 60 60 900, donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque made payable to ‘DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal’ to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.

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